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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A51814 Praise and adoration, or, A sermon on Trinity-Sunday before the University at Oxford, 1681 by Thomas Mannyngham ... Manningham, Thomas, 1651?-1722. 1681 (1681) Wing M496; ESTC R1851 10,969 30

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Faith and Humility by the Arrogancy of his Wit and Invention This exalted Exercise of Praising and Blessing the Lord will also fill the Imagination with Heavenly Imagery 'T will adorn it with the Vine and Pomgranate of the Temple making that Faculty an holy Receptacle of pious Emblems which in its Corrupt Nature is the chief Seat and Empire of Original Sin the Infernal Theatre where all the busiest Scenes of Temptation are display'd 'T will teach us not to lay out our best superlative words on Earthly things not to embalm Rottenness and Corruption with the Epithites of Divinity not to Deifie the Ambitious with sacred Oratory or to commit Idolatry with a too Bounteous Invention but to reserve a peculiar Hierarchy of Language for our Superior Intercourse Lastly It will spiritualize our Affections call them off from the defilements of the World make them languish in unaccountable Unions and give them a tender Sympathy with all the Endearments of the Canticles It will create in us such an Habitual Indulgence towards the sweetnesses of a Religious life that amidst the Avocations of the world the disturbances of secular business and the Afflictions of Common Conversation we shall be able to maintain a secret Under-current of pious Aspirations and Affections Let us therefore summon up all that is within us all the Faculties and Powers of our Souls to Bless and Praise the Lord with fervent Gratulations For surely Christianity is not only a bare Avoydance of Evil a plausible course in Moral Actions or an External living up to the Decency of a Station which yet in a Degenerate Age are no mean Patterns and Examples but certainly there are requir'd some Affectionate Heats some Breathings and Pantings after further degrees of Holiness and an Indefinite Perfection And though the cold Logicians are apt to call this a Spiritual Romance and the effect of a Religious Spleen yet we know of what Complexion they were who styl'd the miraculous effusions of the Holy Ghost Drunkenness and the fumes of New Wine St. Pauls Learning and the Sobriety of his Reason Madness and Distraction Surely no man can be an Heretick in his secret Communions with God or a dangerous Enthusiast in his Inward Adorations And if some Weaknesses have been found among the private Ardours of the Retir'd alas what are they but the glorious Frailties of the Pathetic Soul the Noble Extravagancies of a Seraphick Temper and an impetuous Devotion I know there is a lower Draught of Christianity but I speak a practical Mystery to the Wise to the Perfect to the Prophets and Sons of the Prophets who know how to be warm and affectionate in Religion without being Superstitious how to Adore without being Idolatrous I speak to you who are plac'd in all the Circumstances of an Extatick life who are so nearly acquainted with the intelligible World that what is but plain Picture to the Vulgar is Hieroglyphick to you they must be contented with the bare External View whilst you enrich your minds with the more Excellent Moral and Mystery To you who are able to compose and consecrate the Recollection of your Daily Studies into an Evening Hymn whose constant Imployment consists in such an Eminency of Spiritual Duties as others faintly attempt in seldom Festivals with secular Mixtures and divided Powers To you lastly who are perpetually attending on the Altar who love to speak of the Glory of Gods Kingdom and to talk of his Power who are continually standing before the Throne having your lives hid with Christ in God in Internal Joy and the secrecies of an Incomprehensible peace who live under such an Extraordinary sense of the Divine Wisdom and Goodness that you find it difficult to refrain from publishing his Perfections continually and from letting the Mistaken world know that it is our Priviledge our Duty and our Excellency never to cease from uttering in some measure our Gratulations and Praises here on Earth till they Expire into Greater till we arrive to those Perfect Harmonies above where our Glorify'd Souls and Bodies shall for ever dwell in an Eternal Triumph of Adoration and Amazement where like the voice of Trumpets of Thunders and like the noise of many Waters vve shall for ever sing Hallelujah Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power be to the Blessed Trinity And again we shall sing Hallelujah FINIS